Core matrix assembly



Allg- 1958 w. M. HENNESSEY 2,846,672

cons MATRIX ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 31, 1956 LZBQ n 2s 31 25 24 x m&

INVENTOR. I WILLIAM M. HENNESSEY' AG E NT and expensive replacementprocedure.

United States Patent CORE MATRIX ASSEMBLY William M. l-lennessey,Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporafion of Michigan 7 Application August 31, 1956, Serial No dll'lws flaims. (Cl. 340-174 The present invention relates to core matrixassemblies and more particularly to a novel terminal lug for usetherewith.

As described more fully hereinafter, magnetic core matrices employextremely fine wires strung across a frame in criss-cross fashion witheach pass of wire across the frame secured to terminal lugs positionedupon the frame, with magnetic cores positioned at the cross over pointsof the wires. While this general construction is not new, in the past,the terminal lugs used on core matrix frames necessitated feeding thefine wire through a hole or slot at an angle to its path across theframe. After the wire was fed through the opening, tension was appliedand the wire and then wrapped arond the terminal and solder connectedthereto. Usually terminal lugs include sharp edges and the tension onthe fine wires as it was being wrapped around the sharp edges of theterminal would often snap the wire, making it necessary to start thewinding over again. Other difiiculties of the prior art terminal lugsreside in the fequency of broken or damaged wires occurring during useof the matrices, necessitating a very ditficult Then too, many of theterminals are of the screw machine type which require machine operationsand drilling, all of which add to the expense of these items.

An important object of the present invention is to provide core matrixasesmbly overcoming the above difficulties. I

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel terminallug.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel terminal lugmaking it possible to assemble matrices of equally tensioned crosswires.

A further object is to provide terminal lugs of the aforementioned typewhich are self-anchoring and easily assembled in a matrix frame.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to ice erably ofrectangular configuration, serving as the body of the matrix assemblyand including a first plurality of transverse wires 11 strung inparallel spacedrelationship between frame sides 12 and 13, and a secondplurality of transverse wires M strung in parallel spaced relationshipbetween frame sides 15 and 16, all wires of both groups being insubstantially the same plane. The two sets of wires thus form acriss-cross pattern between the opposite sides of the frame and form amatrix for supporting magnetic cores 17 at their intersections, witheach of the wires functioning as a single turn for the cores associatedtherewith. The frame is preferably molded of dielectric material and isprovided with outer provide a light weight terminal lug which is readilyadapted for rapid and inexpensive manufacture by mass productionmethods.

in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a magnetic core memory matrix embodying oneform of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the novelterminal lug;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1showing a lug assembled in the matrix frame;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showinghow the lugs are assembled in the matrix frame; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings showing a mag? netic core matrixin accordance with the present invention, the numeral 10 designates anannular frame, prefcovers 1%.

For mounting the two sets of wires ll and 14 on the frame, each side ofthe latter is formed with a row of apertures 29, preferably ofrectangular section and spaced to match the selected wire spacing. Inparticular accordance with the present invention each aperture receivesa terminal lug 21 of conducting material. In assemblying the matrix withterminals 21 in place about the periphery of the frame, one end of eachwire 11 is connected to aterminal 21 at one side of the frame afterwhich its free end is threaded through a row of magnetic cores 1? andthen is connected to a terminal 21 at the opposite side of the frame. Inthe same manner one end of each wire ld is connected to a terminal 21 atone side of the frame 10 and its free end is then threaded at rightangles to wires ll, through a row of cores l7, and then is connected toa terminal 2i. at the opposite side of the frame. The arrangement issuch that each core 17 is positioned at the crossover points of wires lland 14. In other words each core 113 encircles both a wire 11 and a wire14 and is supported by the crossed wires to form the X and Y axes of acore matrix unit.

in order to stretch each wire without breaking it, terminals 21 are ofnovel construction. Each terminal comprising a body formed of flexiblefiat strip metal reversely bent to form two parallel legs 22 and 23spaced from each other but integrally connected at one end by abridge24l, preferably of arcuate configuration. Leg 22 is longer thanleg 23 thus to provide an extension 25, which, as seen in Figures 1 and4, projects from the outer face ,of each side of the frame when theterminals are in place. Thus, with terminals 21 in apertures 24 there isprovided a row of terminal projections 25 (Figure 1) at each frame sidefor connection thereto of selected electrical circuits. It will be notedin Figure 2 that the bridge end of each lug is of increased width toform transversely aligned shoulders as and 27.

Further, it should be particularly noted that the free end of leg 23 isbent outwardly, at a point spaced from its shoulders 25, a distancecorresponding substantially to the thickness of a side wall of frame 10,and prefer ably at an angle which is acute relative-to leg 23, thus toform a latch 28. When inserting a termiiial 21 into its aperture 20, asseen in Figure 4, its leg 23 is flexed towards leg 22 to permitextension 25 and the retracted latch 23 to be inserted through theaperture until stopped by shoulders 26 and 27 abutting frame 10, atwhich instant latch 28 emerges from the aperture to snap upwardly andbehind the outer frame face to lock the terminal in place, as seen inFigures 3 and 5. Because of the acute angular relation of latch 28 withleg 23, the outer edge 28a will bite into the frame wall thus to firmlyanchor the terminal. The terminal is prevented from turning when inapertures 20 by the rectangular configuration'thereof. Thus, with aterminal inserted in its aperture 20, the two pairs of shouldersapplying solder at the point p a complete core matrix or I 3 v I 26 and27 and latch 28 function to lock' the lug to the frame.

For attaching the .respective wires 11 and 14 to the terminals, eachextension 25 is provided with a wire receiving hole 30 to w ch the wireis led by way of a guide hold 31 in bridge 24 to pass between legs 22and enter hole 30 to be wrapped and soldered. Preferably extension 25 ofeach terminal 21 has a slot 32 for soldering attachment of a terminal ofan associated circuit.

In assembling the matrix, terminals 21' are inserted and anchored inframe apertures 20 as described above. A wire 11 or 14 to be mounted instretched condition is now inserted through guide hole 31 of a selectedterminal and threaded through the space between the legs 22 and 23 andhole 30 of extension'25, and soldered in place by where the wire passesthrough hole 31. The free end of the wire is now threaded through a. rowof cores 17 and then through guide hole 31 of the oppositely alignedterminal, between its legs 22 and 23 andconnected to a suitabletensioning device, not shown. Preferably the applied tension is of theorder of 0.2 pound. With the wire properly tensioned it is soldered tothe lug where it passes through guide hole 31. Both ends of the wire arethen threaded through holes 30 and wrapped around terminal extension 25to make an untensioned mechanical connection therewith. In this way allof the wires are mounted in place under the same tension to lie in asubstantially common plane forming memory plane. The peripheral 25permit ready connection with associated It should be understood, ofcourse, that the wires may be assembled in groups rather than singly.That is, all of wires 11 may be strung through their associated terminal21 then soldered to the terminals in side wall 13, tensioned' as agroup, soldered to the terminals in wall 12, after which the ends arewrapped around the terminals. I

-It will now be apparent that-a novel core matrix has been devisedwherein, novel terminals permit a straight feed of the wire so that eachwire can be soldered without having to bend the wire while it is undertension. This provides a further advantage in that the danger ofbreaking the fine wires which heretofore had to be bentwhile undertension has been eliminated. Furthermore, these novel snap-in terminalscan be inserted without danger of rotation so that perfect alignment ofall terminals is possible. Also repair costs are kept at a minimumbecause in case of a broken wire or particular terminal and itsassociated wire can be removed and replaced without afiecting the otherwires andterminals of the matrix.

What is claimed is:

1. A core matrix assembly comprising, an annular frame having alignedapertures in opposite sides thereof, terminal lugs in said apertures,each of said terminal lugs comprising two legs of different lengths insubstantially parallel spaced relation, a spacing bridge interconnectingprojections apparatus.

a damaged terminal the bridge being axially alignedoneendofsaidlegsontheinnersideofssid'framesnd having a guide hole for awire, the guide hole of each with the guide hole of its respectivelyaligned terminal on the opposite side of said frame, means adjacent saidbridge to limit the'insertion of said legs-in said apertures, anoutwardly projecting latch on the other end of the shorter of said legsarranged to snap into contact with the outer face of said frame when thelug is inserted in said aperture from the inside of said frame, saidlonger leg including a portion projecting from said outer face'as' aconnector, wires passing through said guide hole inaligned terminals andsoldered under tension to said bridge to form a criss-cross pattern,

and toroidal cores positioned at crossover points of said wires withsaid wires passing through the apertures of said cores. T 1

2. A terminal lug for insertion in an aperture in a frame, said lugcomprising a pair of resilient legs, one long and one short, positionedsubstantially parallel-to, but spaced from each other, an arcuate bridgemember interconnecting adjacent ends of said legs, abutment means at thebridged end of said legs to limit insertion of said lug in an aperturein said frame, means at the opposite end of said short leg to engagesaid frame in a manner cooperating with said abutment means to lock saidlug in its inserted position with said longer leg projecting from saidframe for connection thereto of a wire, said bridge having a guide holefor the passage therethrough of a wire, the axis of. said hole extendingsubstantially parallel with and between said legs.

3. A lug to be inserted in the aperture of a frame strip and formed by abent elongated strip of flexible metal,

said lug comprising an arcuate bridge "member, a short leg extendingfrom one side of said bridge member and having adjoining width less thanthat of said bridge member to form two opposite shoulders, a latch atthe free end of said short leg spaced from said shoulders and projectingaway from said legs and toward said bridge to engage said frame whensaid lug is in an aperture, and a long leg extending from the other sideof said bridge member having adjoining width less than that of saidbridge member to form two opposite shoulders in the plane of theshoulders on said short leg, said bridge member having a guide holeopening into the space between said legs.

